Resilient dozer lift arrangement



Oct. 18, 1966 K. J. KOLINGER ETAL RESILIENT DOZER LIFT ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1962 J-cd'erczfo Oct. 18, 1966 K. J. KOLINGER ETAL 33 3 RESILIENT DOZER LIFT ARRANGEMENT Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tar/672250123 ffigmigg; 11/ 0 [mac United States Patent 3,279,105 RESILIENT DOZER LIFT ARRANGEMENT Kenneth J. Kolinger, Riverside, and Edward D. Duke,

Chicago, 11]., assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,512 7 Claims. (Cl. 37-144) This invention relates in general to earth moving apparatus, and more particularly to a new and improved means for mounting a dozer blade to a tractor or other suitable vehicle, said mounting means having characteristics which render said dozer blade particularly useful for pushing other vehicles such as tractors or scrapers.

In the construction equipment field it has been a long established practice to employ two or more bulldozers in tandem as a pusher of earth moving scrapers. While such arrangements have in general served their purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory under all operating conditions, particularly when operating in uneven terrain, in that repeated shock loads are imparted to the mechanical structures. This type of loading has not only resulted in excessive failure of machine parts, but it has also caused severe jolting to the scraper and bulldozer operators, which causes fatigue and eventually inefficient operation. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide mounting means for a dozer blade which are resilient during the pushing operation so as to absorb and dissipate the aforesaid impact loads.

Since bulldozers of the type described above are not usually used continuously as pushers, it is a further object of the present invention to provide. a mounting means for the dozer blade which is resilient during pushing operations, yet which is relatively rigid during normal dozing operations.

It is a still further object of the .present invention to provide mounting means for a dozer blade having the aforedescribed advantages, and which also allows the blade to be lifted in a substantially vertical plane through a relatively large range.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the annexed drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail view, partly in section of the novel cushioning means of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a crawler tractor of conventional design indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 10. Radiator means are provided at the forward end of tractor and are surrounded by a radiator guard member 11. The radiator guard further includes a pair of side plates 12 and 13, which are fixedly and rigidly secured to the tractor main frame 14 by bolts 15 or the like.

A suitable pushing member, such as a dozer blade 16 is swingably connected to tractor 10 by mounting means indicated generally at 27. Blade 16 may be formed of any conventional construction, and in the preferred embodiment it is illustrated as including a back plate 17, side 3,279,105 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 plates 18 and 19, a reinforced forwardly concaved moldboard surface 20 and a cutting edge 21 secured to the lower portion of the moldboard surface 20. A first pair of spaced-apart apertured mounting cars 22 and 23 are secured in a horizontally aligned position to back plate 17. A second pair of spaced-apart mounting cars 24 and 25 are secured in a horizontally aligned position to back plate 17 at a point below cars 22 and 23 and spaced outwardly rtherefrom.

The'dozer blade mounting means 27 include a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower links 28-29 and 30-31. Upper links 28 and 30 are mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane by having their rearward-1y extending ends pivotally secured to the outwardly projecting portions 32 and 33, respectively, of a cross bar which extend-s transversely of the vehicle 10. The forwardly extending ends of upper links 28 and 30 are secured between cars 22 and 23 by pins 34 and 35 to provide a pivotal connection with dozer blade 16.

The rearwardly extending end of lower links or push arms 29 and 31 are pivotally secured to shafts 37 and 38 which extend transversely from the lower portion of the vehicle frame. A cross beam 39 extends transversely with respect to vehicle 10, and is fixedly secured to the forwardly extending end of lower links 29 and 31. The connection between the rearwardly extending ends of links 28-31 and shafts 32, 33, 37 and 38 is preferably a ball and socket type, so as to render dozer blade 16 capable of limited movement in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of vehicle 10. A pair of depending plate members 2911 and 31a are mounted upon radiator guard 11, and are adapted to engage lower links 29 and 31 to resist side loads imparted to the dozer blade.

In the preferred embodiment upper links 28 and 30 are substantially parallel to lower links 29 and 31. This arrangement enables dozer blade 16 to move in a generally vertical plane throughout a wide range of adjustments with respect to vehicle 10. It should also be pointed out that by changing the length of arms 28-31 or by changing the location of the connection of links 28-31 to vehicle 10, the angle of cutting edge 21 with respect to the ground may be varied.

Cross tube 39 is provided adjacent its outermost portion with a pair of apertured lug members 40 and 41. Lugs 40 and 41 are secured between ears 24 and 25 by pivot pins 42 and 43 to provide a pivotal connection with dozer blade 16.

Cross tube 39 is further provided adjacent its central portion with a pair of upstanding apertured ear members 45, which form a pivotal mounting for one end of an expandable ram 47 of a hydraulic cylinder assembly 46.

which derives power from a source, not shown, on the vehicle. The other end of cylinder assembly 46 is pivotally connected to an apertured mounting bracket 48 which is secured to the vehicle radiator shield 11. It will be readily understood that as ram 47 is expanded or retracted, dozer blade 16 is lowered or raised with respect to vehicle 10. It should also be understood that while hydraulic lifting means have been illustrated, the present invention also contemplates the use of cable lifting means, and in that case the lower pulley would be mounted upon either cross tube 39 or blade 16.

In the normal pushing operation impact loads are repeatedly imparted to the upper portion of the dozer blade. Cushioning means, indicated generally at 50, are provided in upper links 28 and 30 to absorb these impact loads.

The shock absorbing device used in link 28. and link 30 is member 52 telescopically received therein. One end of member 51 is provided with an outwardly flared flange portion 53 having a plurality of apertures therethrough. A hollow cylindrically shaped sleeve is provided with a base 54 having a centrally disposed opening 55 for reception of member 52, and a side wall 56 extending axially of upper. link 28. Base 54 is further provided with a plurality of threaded apertures adapted to receive bolts 57 which removably secure the sleeve to flange 53. The forwardly extending end of member 52 is provided with a circular flange 58having .an apertured lug 59 extending therefrom which is pinned between ears 23. Flange 58, base 54, and side wall 56, cooperate to provide spaced apart seating means between which volute spring 60 is positioned, 7

While a volute spring is employed in the preferred embodiment, itshould be understood that other cushioning means such as, compression or other mechanical springs, hydraulic cylinder, air cylinders, rubber disks, and other equivalent devices, may also function satisfactorily. However, a volute spring has proven superior under most operating conditions, in that it provides a relatively rigid yet resilient mounting, which is important to maintain the dozing properties of the blade.

Member 52 is provided with a threaded end portion 61 for reception of a nut 62, which has a large enough diameter to engage base 54 as it is threaded upon portion 61. It should be understood .that by threading nut 62 upon portion 61, spring 60 will be compressed thereby enabling the initial angle at which cutting edge 21 is disposed with respect to the ground to be adjusted and controlled.

With particular reference to FIGURE 2 it will be noted that when an impact load is transmitted to the upper portion of blade 16, the blade will pivot rearwardly about the axis of pins 4243. Member 52. will slide through aperture 55 against the bias of spring 60 to assume the position indicated by the broken lines at 52'. Upon absorption of the load the action of spring 60 upon seating means 54 and 58 will cause member 52 to assume the solid line position indicated in FIGURE 2.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that what has been provided is a dozer blade mounting of relatively simple construction, which enables the blade to be lifted and lowered freely with respect to the vehicle upon which it ismounted in a substantially vertical plane, and which contains means for absorbing impact loads imparted to the mounting during pushing operations.

It should be understood, of course, that the above disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

:1. A mounting device for attaching a pushing dozer blade having an upper and a lower portion thereon to a tractivevehicle comprising: spaced-apart pairs of upper and lower links, each link having one end pivotally secured at a fixed position on the vehicle, the other end of each of said upper links pivotally secured to the pushing dozer blade,

the other end of each of said lower links operatively pivot-v ally connected to the pushing blade, each of said upper links having telescoping sections, lifting means operatively connected between the vehicle and the pushing blade and adapted to lift and lower the pushing blade with respect means operatively pivotally connected to the dozer blade,

loads imparted to the lower portion of said pushing blade; 2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein a transversely extending cross beam is connected to the other I end of each of said lower links adjacent the lower portion of .the pushing blade and said lifting means is operatively connected to said cross beam.

3. A mounting device for attaching a dozer blade to a tractive vehicle comprising: a spaced-apart pair of upper links, each of said upper links having one end pivotally secured to the vehicle and the other end pivotally secured to the blade, said upper links each having a predetermined length and including a pair of telescoping relatively movable members, resilient means interposed between said.

movable members of said upper links to yieldably permit retraction of the movable members during pushing op-,

erations and nonresilient means to rigidly prevent extension of the movable members beyond said predetermined length during excavating operations, a pair of spaced-apart 4. A mounting device for attaching a dozer blade to a tractive vehicle comprising: upper link means having: one end pivotally connected at a fixed position on the tractive vehicle and pivotally connected at the other end to the dozer blade, lower link means pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle, the other end of said lowerlink said upper link means including. a first tubular member and a second member slidably received therein, seating means on one of said members for movably receiving the other member, resilient means mounted on said seating the connection of said lower link means, nonresilient means on one of said members to rigidly restrict extension of the movable members when forces are applied to said blade below said last-mentioned connection, and lifting means operatively connected between the vehicle and the dozer blade adapted to lift and lower the blade with respect to the vehicle.

5. A mounting device for attaching a dozer blade to a tractive vehicle comprising: spaced-apart pairs of upper.

and lower links, each of said upper links having a prer determined length and having one end pivotally secured to the vehicle and the other end pivotally secured to the blade, each of said lower links having one end pivotally secured to the vehicle and the. other end operatively pivotr ally connected to the blade, said upper links each ineluding a first tubular member and a second member slidably received therein, seating means on said first and second members, jresilient means mounted in said seating means to yieldably permit retraction of said first and sec-.

0nd members during pushing operations when forces are applied to a portion of the blade above the operative pivotal connection of said lower links and nonresilient means to rigidly prevent extension ofsaid first and second 1 members beyond said predetermined length during excavating operations, said nonresilient means having ad-.

justment means associated therewith and engageable with said first member seating means to vary the angle. of the blade with respect to the ground, and lifting means op- (References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,999,697 9/ 1961 Winget.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,573 1/ 8 M Z S 7- 1,539,272 5/1925 'Prescott 267-62 1 G71 026 f E E P TENTS 11,997,001 4/ 1935 Lamb 37-144 5 rance' 2,135,749 11/1938 Gullo 267-42 XR ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. 2,604,703 7/ 1952 WaShbOHd ROBERT C RIORDQN, $986,827 6/1961 Peters 37-444 BENJAMIN HERSH, W. B. STONE, J. 0. BOLT, 2,991,566 7/1961 Summer et a1 37-42 10 Assistant Examiners 

3. A MOUNTING DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A DOZER BLADE TO A TRACTIVE VEHICLE COMPRISING: A SPACED-APART PAIR OF UPPER LINKS, EACH OF SAID UPPER LINKS HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE OTHER END PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE BLADE, SAID UPPER LINKS EACH HAVING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF TELESCOPING RELATIVELY MOVABLE MEMBERS, RESILIENT MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE MEMBERS OF SAID UPPER LINKS TO YIELDABLY PERMIT RETRACTION OF THE MOVABLE MEMBERS DURING PUSHING OPERATIONS AND NONRESILIENT MEANS TO RIGIDLY PREVENT EXTENSION OF THE MOVABLE MEMBERS BEYOND SAID PREDETERMINED LENGTH DURING EXCAVATING OPERATIONS, A PAIR OF SPACED-APART LOWER LINKS PIVOTALLY SECURED EACH AT ONE END TO THE VEHICLE, THE OTHER END OF EACH OF SAID LOWER LINKS OPERATIVELY PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE DOZER BLADE, AND LIFTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND THE BLADE ADAPTED TO LIFT AND LOER THE BLADE WITH RESPECT TO THE VEHICLE. 